What you can do in the NICU
What you can do in the NICU
Our mission is to support and educate Canadian families of premature babies every step of the way – before, during and after their NICU stays.
Our vision is to create a brighter future for all premature babies and those who care for them.
Introducing Preemi™, the stuffie made just for premature babies. Learn more here.
Parent Care Program
Offering mental health support to parents of preemies.
Parent Care, a program providing professional mental health support, free to eligible families.
Please note:
We recognize the importance and need for the Parent Care program. However, due to the high demand for the services, we have temporarily paused it to ensure all the current families enrolled receive the care they need.
From February 1st, 2023, all new referrals will be put on a wait list.
Parents on the wait list will be informed when the program resumes.
Thank you for your understanding.
With the cancellation of all in-unit support groups and programs across the country due to COVID-19, we recognize there is an extra layer of trauma and isolation for preemie parents.
Through this special program, qualifying families will receive four online 45-minute therapy sessions conducted by mental health professionals, including clinical psychologists and perinatal mental health specialists from all across Canada.
Important: If you are currently in crisis please reach out to the support people in your life, and if necessary, call 911 or go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital.
Eligibility
Who currently have a baby in the NICU
Whose babies were discharged home January 1, 2019 or after
Who are currently pregnant and have previously experienced preterm birth and/or a NICU stay
Who are trying to conceive after a pregnancy loss or NICU stay
"NICU parents often talk about how isolating it is to be in the NICU, and how hard it is to find someone who understands. We designed the Parent Care program to meet the mental health needs of these families, and to help them feel less alone.”
When we connect with families in our Parent Care program, they share their stories, they explore their feelings, and they begin the process of reclaiming their experience and identities. These sessions can be profoundly transformational and can set families up for a lifetime of more confident parenting.”
“By supporting parents’ emotional well-being, we are actually prioritizing children’s physical and emotional development.”
Meet our Clinicians
Tiffany Mitchell
Registered Psychologist (5506)
Alberta
Madeleine Stobbe
M.A. Psychologist (Cand. Reg.)
Nova Scotia
Veronica Harris
Registered Clinical Counsellor, MACP
British Columbia
Dr. Chanthalone Smith
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, PhD, C. Psych
Ontario
Kate Robson
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MEd.
Ontario
Sara Halipchuk
MSW, RSW
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
Kieran Powers
MA, Certified Grief and Trauma Coach
All Provinces & Territories
Acsana Fernando Khan
Registered Social Worker
Ontario & Nova Scotia
**Offering therapy in Bengali, Hindi, Urdu; Punjabi (understand)
Karmen McDivitt
Psychotherapist, M.A
Ph.D Candidate, C.Psych Candidate
Manitoba
Alison McLennan
Registered Social Worker
Ontario
Brenna Henrikson
MA, Ph.D Candidate
Manitoba
![image[90]_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97627d_6207ca7c921b4f11b55750a0a8e5f35a~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_115,w_886,h_885/fill/w_139,h_139,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/image%5B90%5D_edited.jpg)
Lindsay Gareau
MSW, RSW
Alberta and Saskatchewan
*Services offered in English and French
![Leanne Biz Pic[65]_edited_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/97627d_effd1ccdcfe04394a96ba3769852b6f9~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_499,w_2002,h_2002/fill/w_139,h_139,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Leanne%20Biz%20Pic%5B65%5D_edited_edited.jpg)
Leanne Rose Dorish
MA, Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC)
British Columbia
Shakeera Baker
Parent Care Project Coordinator
We thank Pampers for making this program possible in 2022.
